Who’s the Boss? Understanding the Joint Employer Rule
Workforce
The joint employer rule is a foundational concept with far-reaching impacts in federal labor law, determining when two separate business entities share legal responsibility for the same workers.
AGOA After Reauthorization: Debates Over the Future of U.S.-Africa Trade
Trade
The enactment of the 2026 AGOA extension provides policymakers with a defined period to evaluate and implement reforms before the program’s reauthorization deadline at the end of 2028. The central policy question is no longer whether to extend AGOA in the immediate term, but how to modernize the program to deliver greater benefits for U.S. businesses, workers, and consumers while supporting sustainable economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa.
Section 232: Tariffs at the Intersection of Trade, National Security, and Executive Power
Trade
Section 232 tariffs have become a significant tool of modern U.S. trade policy. Government, the private sector, and consumers are looking to strike a balance between national security concerns and economic stability.
Energy Affordability During an Era of Increased Electricity Demand for AI Data Centers
Energy & Utilities Technology
As data centers continue to be developed across the US to support the growing use of generative AI models, move from on-premises compute to more efficient cloud computing, and the rising national security concerns about maintaining US competitiveness in AI relative to China, it is clear that demand for electricity for AI data centers will continue to rise.
Tariffs and Trade Rules: Considerations in Digital Commerce
Trade
Digital trade shapes our everyday life and is a growing portion of the global economy. The U.S. and countries around the world are seeking to balance promoting innovation and market access with concerns over revenue collection and fair competition.
Competitive Bidding Under Medicare for Durable Medical Equipment
Health Care
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) operates a competitive bidding program to pay for certain categories of durable medical equipment (DME) for original Medicare beneficiaries, ranging from mobility devices like wheelchairs, diabetes testing supplies like blood glucose monitors, and other supplies like back and knee braces for patients living in Competitive Bidding Areas (CBAs). When CMS decides a category of equipment should be eligible for competitive bidding for DME, they go through a process of soliciting bids and selecting from eligible proposals to find the lowest-cost supplier that still meets volume and quality requirements. The core rationale behind competitive bidding for DME is threefold: cost savings, reduced fraud and waste, and improved oversight. Because fewer approved suppliers operate in each contract area, CMS can more easily monitor compliance and quality, control costs, and identify potential issues. In this Basic, we examine the competitive bidding framework, from how CMS solicits bids and awards contracts to the quality and financial standards suppliers must meet.
Alternative Investments in 401(k)s
Financial Services
Retirement security remains a significant concern for many Americans. Gallup found that 69% of non-retired Americans are very or moderately worried about not having enough money for retirement, and an Allianz survey found that 64% of Americans are more concerned about running out of money than about death. As policymakers look to alleviate these fears, some have pointed to possible changes in how retirement plans operate as a solution. Before the 1980s, most Americans were covered by a pension plan at work. Over time, for a variety of reasons, employers shifted to offering a 401(k) plan instead, and now most U.S. citizens use 401(k)s as their primary tool to save for retirement. One difference is the range of assets that each plan can invest in.
Medicare Advantage: How it Works, How it’s Financed, and What’s Next?
Health Care
Medicare Advantage, also known as Medicare Part C, is a core part of the Medicare program in which the federal government partners with private health insurance companies to provide benefits to those eligible for Medicare. In recent years, enrollment in the program has increased significantly, with over half of Medicare beneficiaries (about 54%) choosing Medicare Advantage over “traditional” Medicare in 2025.